I need help with my Bi-Polar...Can you help???

Question

Ok...I'm bi-polar, which means I switch from happy to sad in 2.5 seconds. I have been off my meds for about 1 year, I got a great job and an apartment, everythin seemed to be good. But I have a problem...I feel my depression coming back, my feelings keep getting hurt, I'm fighting more with my husband...The thing is I can't go back on the meds...I was a zombie...Anyone know of anything else I can do...I don't want to lose everything I have worked for in the last year. And to add to the fact my husband is not giving me much help this time around..

Answer 1

If you have to choose the lessor of two evils, then so be it. Your going to lose everything if you don't get some help with medication. In a year things change and new meds come out to treat disorders everyday. Go on the internet and see what is being used to treat Bi-Polar now. My neighbor and friend is Bi-Polar and she was on medication and was not a zombie. She quit taking her medication and I tried talking to her about this as I don't like being around her anymore. She makes every excuse in the book as to way she should not take her medication. Even denying being Bi-Polar. This is not you. You address your situation you just don't like the out of body effect the meds have on you and I don't blame you one bit.
Do your research and find a med that will help you. Talk to your doctor about your dislike of the medication that you were on and see if he has any suggestions. If your doctor is of no help, change doctors. A change in doctors sometimes produces the desired results. Don't wait, act immediately cause you know all the signs and you want to snip this in the bud before it gets way out of hand. Good luck.

Answer 2

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I have been fighting on my own, without meds for about a year now, and i thought i was doing well. Started a new life, new job, rebuilt my relationship with my parents, but i am very testy and my boyfriend of now over a year is not very understanding at all, and that just adds fuel to the fire. I found that there are a few things to help when you are getting in those moods. I try to keep myself doing things i enjoy, like reading or writting, or drawing. If you feel more angry or stressed a nice hot bath, or excerise or a nap can help. Taking a walk is a great way to get away from the stress and just refocusing yourself. A counselor can be helpful. I have begun to ponder if maybe i should get back on meds, but not the same ones that made me feel so unlike myself. There are always new meds being developed and maybe it wouldn't hurt to talk to a doctor about another type of med that can help you, but not make you feel like a zombie. If you just remind yourself how hard you have worked for everything over the past year, you should be able to get the motivation that you need to keep you going even when you get down. Try to find a different way at communicating with your husband, maybe he will become more supportive if you take a different approach to how you talk to him about your feelings, couples counseling could help out too.

Answer 3

I dont have Bi-Polar, but I have PTSD, dont sleep very well, and I get very terrible Migranes, so I can understand the drugs turning you into a Zombie.

First off.... you have to find a therapist you are comfortable with.

Second.... if you dont do something about your illness, medication or therapy, you might lose everything youve worked so hard to attain if that makes any sense.

If you get depressed, and your untreated.... there's no telling what will happen, especially if your husband isnt in your corner so to speak.

Third.... Medication. There are a ton of meds out there, you can mix and match until you find a combination you like. You just have to be patient. It takes up to two, sometimes three months to find a balance. Youre dealing with the brain and its chemistry, and well.... it is more complicated than rocket science.

The sooner you set up your "ducks in a row" so to speak, the better you will be. If you are mixed picture/rapid cycling.... you need to address these problems now before they spin out of your control. The good thing about all of this is, youre aware of your own situation, and you seem to have it in perspective.

Just find someone you trust.... thats the best suggestion I can give you. Youve made it this far, you just have to find someone/know someone to turn to Professionally. I know you dont like the idea of medication, but that might not be an option, especially if you want to maintain all that youve achieved. Then all you have to do is work slowly from there, and hopefully you will keep your head above water. The important things are to ask for help, and to be patient....

Mental illness isnt like breaking a bone, or having surgery. The brain is a large and interesting place.... and mostly unexplored. Just take your time, and build yourself a support network of friends, family, and whomever else you can find that will help you.

Good Luck To You....

Answer 4

You don't mention which meds you were on or even which type of Bipolar you have. I can tell you this much, no mater what: your mood swings will always return. There is no cure for Bipolar and without medication you will have shifts. This doesn't mean that you can't live med-free, it just means that you have to expect your life to be rough sailing (with periods of calm) forever.

I advise you see a p-doc as soon as possible. The right doctor and the right meds can control your Bipolar and life can be really good. I'm Bipolar myself (Bipolar I rapid cycling) and know what I'm talking about. You don't have to be miserable. I'm currently taking an anti-convulsant and it's worked wonders. Unlike other meds they've tried on me in the past, I'm NOT a zombie. It's a really good thing.

Best wishes and good luck.

P.S. Despite what some people will say, Bipolar is a illness and needs to be treated as such. It's not just "in your head", it's a chemical imbalance caused by your brain. Warm puppies and happy thoughts cannot heal your brain. And as a last note, your husband might want to read "Loving Someone with Bipolar", my SO found it to be helpful in understanding my disease.

Answer 5

There is so many new meds now that can be used. And being a bi-polar you know that the meds help more tan the zombie effect. You are only hurting yourself and the people you love. They do not feel what is going on inside of you, but they can see what is happening around their world caused by your mood swings. I have a child that is bi-polar and he is doing great on his meds. Go to your doctor get back on your meds. Stop trying too find the easy way, self-medicating, find a therapist you can related to and that can related to you. Know your limits, remember being bi-polar is a disease, if someone you loved had a disease like diabetes, but the insulin makes them fun different would you want them to get off their meds? I think not. Good luck get back on your meds.

Answer 6

I am right there with yeah girl. litterally. I know it is not easy, those meds are hell. I found that as long as your "highs" don't get to high, an antidepressent works great. A professional probably wouldn't recommend it, but it work really well for me. try celexa. if you are not the go out and destroy your life when you are on the manic side, you might do ok on it. What ever you do, do not try Prozac, that has been known to make you "highs" and "lows" much worse. My doctor accidentally put me on it, and it made my bi-polar go crazy when it was not to bad before.

Ok to answer our question. try and do things in life that will help. Excersice is great for this, I would swear by it. Getting a full 8 of sleep is not easy, but it helps out a ton, really, a ton. Both of these things will help your mind be able to work easier because it is less stressed and rested. another thing, cut out the caffiene (particularlly soda) this will do wonders for your brain also. One last thing.....make some time for your self. you and your husband will learn to apprieciate each other more. You can read, or meditate, or pray, whatever you do for yourself spiritually. this is great for soothing the soul when it feel way to high or low. good luck and blessed be.

Answer 7

You need to find a psychiatrist and talk with him. You need to get back on your medication. And, perhaps the doctor can lower the dosage a little so you don't feel disconnnected.

Your husband might be a little angry that you stopped your medication and started dumping on him. Be sure to tell him that 1) you're trying to find your way, 2) you love him, and 3) that you're glad he's with you. It almost always works.

Answer 8

i know what you mean, i am the same way. i was diagnosed as being bi polar, and i am not on meds. i hate the meds they put me on. what keeps my depression away is to do something you enjoy doing. with me i love all kinds of art. i love music poetry and watercolour. i am a dj and doing my music keeps the depression away. i hope you will be ok. if you need to talk email me at [e-mail] ok.

Answer 9

If you look at your condition as a disorder, it will be a disorder. If you look at your condition as a blessing, it can be a blessing. Sometimes it helps to stop talking to doctors and taking meds. Your own brain can help you better than anything else can. You probibly don't have a disorder except for the dissorder of THINKING you have a dissorder. You can heal yourself faster than you can say "I think, therefore, I am."

Answer 10

So many times I hear this..."I was taking my meds and felt so great that I decided I didn't need them anymore!" the reason you felt so good that you didn't need them anymore is becuz you were taking them! They are what balances your life and make you feel good and organized with your emotions and life-
talk to your Dr about the zombie feeling
the reason your husband isn't helping is becuz your not helping yourself